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Endoscopy tomorrow (Versed tolerance)

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/4/2011 1:07 AM (GMT -5)
I'm feeling especially anxious about this endoscopy tomorrow. I just had a SBFT that showed a possible stricture in the beginning part of my small intestine and my GI wants to take a look.

Normally, I would be okay with the scope...but, this is my 4th endoscopy within the last 2 years (not to mention I've had 5 colonoscopies in the same time period) and Versed doesn't work for me any more. My last endoscopy was horrible, I kept gagging and pushing the doctor away because the Versed wouldn't put me out and I woke up with a horribly sore throat. I remember the doctor saying, "Christ, I gave her enough to put out a horse."

I'm going to refuse to do the scope if they tell me they can't give me something different than Versed to put me out. There's no way I could do it without sedation...I'm far too anxious. I tried to tell my doctor's office about it, but they just told me to tell him before the procedure. I called and told the endoscopy nurse about it as well, and she also told me to tell the doctor when I get in there too. I think they all have this concept that he can just give me more Versed, but the last time they said he gave me the maximum amount and I still can remember the procedure.

Please help to soothe my anxiety. I really don't want to cause a scene about it, but I also really don't want to have a tube shoved down my throat and remember the whole thing (gagging and all).
Posted 3/4/2011 8:03 AM (GMT -5)

is versed what they normally use? I think they give me fentynal, I think, but whatever they use is good stuff. I'm never awake, and I've had 4 this past year. 2 colon's, 2 endo's.

AG

Posted 3/4/2011 9:24 AM (GMT -5)
I had issues with not being sedated enough for a colonoscopy. Before my next one I did tell the nurses prepping me about the problem and also the doc before the procedure and they made sure I got properly sedated for this test. Just explain to them the problems last time, and I am sure they will try something else for you. Big hugs!
Posted 3/4/2011 10:49 AM (GMT -5)
Fentanyl is what they use for the discomfort, but they also give versed as a sedative. I'm shocked that getting Versed only nine times in two years can make you tolerant???
Posted 3/4/2011 4:57 PM (GMT -5)
Tell them you're resistant to versed, and ask for profofol. That's what I'm given, and there's never a
problem. They know full well that I could get up and do the gardening with Versed. So for all my scopes
whether they are upper or lower they use the good stuff. Good luck!!
Posted 3/4/2011 10:39 PM (GMT -5)
I went in for my endoscopy this morning and I ended up refusing to do it.

I told them a week in advance that I was tolerant to Versed and couldn't take it to sedate me. Everyone just kept telling me to tell the doctor when I saw him in the endoscopy room. I told him when I got in there and he obviously didn't believe me that Versed didn't work. He said, "Well, there isn't anything to give you other than Versed, so we're probably going to have to call off the endoscopy. I wish I could give you profofol, but we don't have an anesthesiologist here." I said, "Well, I'll try what you give me, but if I'm not completely out, I'm not going to do the scope."

He gave me 150 mg of Demerol, 2 shots of Versed and another sedative, and I was still wide awake. He started to put the scope in my mouth and I said, "no." He tried again and I pushed him away, "no, I don't want to." The nurse started to try to calm me down and he started to try again so I pulled the mouth guard off my mouth and said, "I have a right to say no!" He got extremely upset and pretty much stomped out of the room.

It's like- I told them a week in advance that I couldn't take Versed- don't you think they would have arranged for someone to be there that could administer the profofol?
I know there are people who do the scopes without sedation, but my anxiety about it was out of this world. I feel like I took the necessary precautions and they didn't listen to me. I also feel silly for making a big deal about it...my doctor came in the room and said, "I guess you're just going to have to find a different doctor." It made me feel horrible.
Posted 3/4/2011 11:53 PM (GMT -5)
I can totally understand your frustration--but you're probably going to have to find a clinic that explicitly states they use propofol for their endoscopy procedures. Most of these offices have contracted anesthesia staff that handle the propofol--reason being, there has to be someone there in case you need an advanced airway established. propofol is safe and effective, but it can't be used by just anyone. versed is pretty much super-strong xanax, so there's much less risk of airway problem as compared to propofol (propofol is short acting but it def counts as general anesthesia whereas versed does not)

although--i'm really surprised you're resistant to the versed. i had a bronchoscopy done with it and while i remember it, i don't remember feeling panicked, just...chill. sorry you had such a crappy time :(
Posted 3/5/2011 9:21 AM (GMT -5)
Sorry to hear this is giving you such problems.  Is there any chance you have red hair?

Just FYI:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14709456

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